Crabgrass attack!

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Perfect time of year for this because you can plant new grass early next month (Oct).

• Rake out the loose/dead grass in the area.
• Rake in composted manure (your going to need 4+ bags).
• Add grass seed. Rake in lightly.
• The first week you need to water it lightly twice a day.
• Apply a "fall" or starter fertilizer late in Oct.

If you live on the "edge" of a city, see if you can find a "feed store" (or Tractor Supply) in a near by small town. Almost all of them will sell grass seed in bulk at MUCH less than you can buy it a any "big box" store. )Sunny mix" is fine. They will also have 10-10-10 fertilizer which is a good starter fertilizer. You can use what you have left over in early spring (beginning of April).

I use 19-19-19 on my entire lawn in late spring before the temps are in the 70s. Works great and much cheaper than residential fertilizers.

No favorite for pre-merriment crabgrass control.

Thanks again theoldwizard1, you have been extremely helpful.

There's Tractor Supply near town, and Rural King in town (Columbus, IN). Any preference? I have less then 1/2 acre, so I don't mind paying for a premium seed. Is Kentucky Blue grass the way to go? Do you have any experience with Fine Fescue? Parts of my lawn get shaded by large trees at times. I read good things about Fine Fescue for shaded area and I wondered if it makes sense applying Fine Fescue everywhere.

Also, I'm considering renting an aerator for a day. Seeding after aeration, right? Or should I postpone aeration for next year?

 

[lowflyn]

Aerate before seeding. Just try not to tear up the established areas too much.

You won't be able to preemerge until several weeks after you seed. Read label to see how long

Sent from my XT1045 using Tapatalk

 

[theoldwizard1]

Any preference? I have less then 1/2 acre, so I don't mind paying for a premium seed. Is Kentucky Blue grass the way to go?

Personally, I go with 100% Kentucky Blue, but it is a lot more expensive that "Sunny Mix".

Do you have any experience with Fine Fescue? Parts of my lawn get shaded by large trees at times. I read good things about Fine Fescue for shaded area and I wondered if it makes sense applying Fine Fescue everywhere.

No experience with Fescue. How does it stand up to full sun ?

If you are going with anything other than a blend, you might as well rip it all out and put in new sod.

Seeding after aeration, right? Or should I postpone aeration for next year?

I am no a lawn expert, but I have never aerated my lawn in nearly 40 years and I have very hard clay soil.

 

[Sh40674]

what i started doing is using a weed and feed throughout the summer, and the next 2 steps seems to be most important... use a weed and feed made for fall (something you'd spread in october) which will help control weeds in late fall and when it thaws in spring, and right away in the spring as soon as you stay above freezing temps use a spring blend of weed and feed with a crabgrass preventer in it, then use weed and feed once or twice during the summer, repeat fall and spring, etc.... i started doing that a couple years after i moved in 7.5 years ago and havn't had crabgrass or any other weeds since. you need to start controlling in the fall and continue in the spring